Rail-joint



Y (No Model.)

J. STEWART.

RAIL JOINT,

Patented July 7, 1885.'

Nrrnn diaree JOHN STEVART, OF GRANTVILLE, TENNESSEE.

RAID-JOINT.,

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,655, dated July '7, 1885.

Application filed Apr-i122, 1885, (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN STEWART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grantville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ret'- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iignres ofrcference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

The object of this improvement is a railjoint that cannot be worked loose by the expansion or contraction ol' the parts from heat l or cold, the jars or strains produced by pussing trains or other than intentional causes. These results are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings herewith filed as a part hereof, in which the saine let-ters of reference denote the saine parts in the different Views.

Figure lis a top view of a rail-joint embodying the features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top View of one ofthe parts previous to its application in forming thejoint. Fig-1 is a View of the same part in an advanced stage of its application. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of one of the parts detached. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of the same, taken on the line x A A' indicate sections of rails. B B B B representa series of split keys having eyes B inserted, while in the form shown in Fig. 3, through correspondingly-formed slots in the rails A A and fish-plates G C', after which their ends are bent apart from each other, substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 4, for the reception ot' a wedge-shaped metal piece, E, having lateralV projections, c, extending partially over the divisions of the keys B, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. After the keys B are inserted through the slots in the fish-plates C C and rails A A their ends are separated by means of a fuller or other suitably-formed tool being forced between the parts, while a stake or other suitable bearing appliance is held against their eyes B', and the wedge-shaped pieces E are set and forced between them as far as they will go and secured in such position by bending the ends of the keys B over their corners, as shown at B2, Fig. l. The eyes B will operate as boltheads, and, driving the wedges E between t-he divisions of the keys, will draw the fishplates G C and the rails A A tightly together, and, bending the ends of the keys over the corners of the wedges, will secure the rigidity of the joint against change, except by bendingr back the divisions of the keys B and removing the wedges E.

One of the objects of providing the keys with the eyes is for facilitating the removal of the keys should it be necessary to remove and replace the rails. The ends of the keys adjacent to the wedges E would first be disconnected therewith and made as nearly straight as practicable by hammer and stake or other suitable appliances, when blows upon a mandrel or other tool inserted through the eyes B would rapidly disengage the keys from the rails and fish-plates. The lateral projections c c on the wedges E will prevent them from dropping through the divisionsof the keys, in which event the strains and jars caused by passing trains would have a tendency to press the divisions of the keys together, and thereby loosen the joint.

Having explained the construction and operation of my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The keys B and wedges E, in combination with the lish-plates and rails, substantially as specified, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN STEWA'RT.

IVitncsses:

R. B. BIGGER, A. C. STAFFORD. 

